Jeremiah 47:5
Baldness has come upon Gaza; Ashkelon has perished. O remnant of their valley, how long will you gash yourselves?
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse depicts extreme mourning by describing "baldness" and "cutting oneself," which were pagan practices for expressing grief. But here, the prophet uses them to show the utter desolation of Gaza and Ashkelon, portraying their very cities as self-harming in their despair.
Jeremiah is vividly describing the imminent destruction of the Philistine cities, particularly Gaza and Ashkelon, as a consequence of their wickedness. He portrays them in extreme mourning, with baldness and self-inflicted wounds, lamenting their downfall. The prophet then directly addresses the surviving remnant, questioning the futility of their prolonged grief and self-harm.
Why would a prophet describe a city as 'bald' and 'cut off'? Jeremiah uses vivid imagery to show the profound impact of God's judgment.
Jeremiah paints a picture of utter devastation for the Philistine cities of Gaza and Ashkelon. The phrase 'baldness has come upon Gaza' points to a common practice of extreme mourning where people would shave their heads or tear out their hair.
Similarly, 'Ashkelon has perished' or 'is cut off' signifies not just physical destruction but also a silencing of its life and voice, a complete loss that leaves it speechless with grief.
These aren't just poetic descriptions; they are powerful indicators of the depth of sorrow and despair that judgment brings, a national tragedy unfolding.
Who is left to mourn, and why is their grief so desperate? This verse questions the survivors' endless anguish.
The prophet turns his attention to the survivors in the 'remnant of their valley.' This refers to the remaining population and territory of the Philistines, likely their fertile lowlands.
The question, 'how long will you gash yourselves?', points to a practice of self-inflicted wounds as a ritualistic expression of grief or a pagan attempt to appease deities. It was a forbidden practice for the Israelites (Leviticus 19:28).
Jeremiah questions the purpose and duration of such desperate, self-destructive mourning. It highlights the futility of their actions in the face of divine judgment, implying that their lamentations will not reverse God's decree.
Understand the original words
qorchah · Hebrew Noun
A sign of extreme grief, mourning, or shame in the ancient Near East. It was often self-inflicted or forced upon captives to symbolize the stripping away of glory and honor.
gadad · Hebrew Verb
A pagan practice of cutting or lacerating one's body as an expression of intense grief or religious frenzy, which was strictly forbidden in the Law of Moses (Leviticus 19:28). It highlights the spiritual desperation of those who do not know the true God.
Jeremiah's vivid imagery of 'baldness' and 'cutting' reflects ancient Near Eastern expressions of extreme mourning and devastation, directly applicable to the historical context of Philistine cities like Gaza and Ashkelon facing destruction and exile by Babylonian forces.
c. 1100 BC
Philistine Dominance in Canaan
Following their migration, the Philistines established a strong presence along the coastal plain of Canaan, becoming a significant regional power that frequently clashed with the Israelites.
c. 1050-1010 BC
Philistine Wars Against Israel
The Philistines achieved considerable military successes against the early Israelite kingdom, including the capture of the Ark of the Covenant, establishing a period of significant oppression.
c. 750-700 BC
Assyrian Campaigns in Philistia
The Neo-Assyrian Empire exerted control over the region, leading to campaigns that weakened and subjugated various Philistine cities, including Gaza and Ashkelon, disrupting their independence.
604 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's Campaign
As part of his expansion, Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon campaigned in the region, subjugating Philistine cities like Ashkelon, which was destroyed and its inhabitants deported.
This passage warns against the very practices of self-mutilation for mourning that Jeremiah describes, highlighting the extreme and pagan nature of the Philistines' grief.
Isaiah 15:2-3Similar to this verse, Isaiah vividly portrays Moab's distress with imagery of baldness and self-mutilation, showing this was a common prophetic way to depict utter devastation and sorrow among Israel's enemies.
1 Samuel 17:4The mention of the 'remnant of their valley' could allude to giants like Goliath, as some scholars suggest, connecting the Philistines' past power with their current prophesied downfall.
Amos 1:8This verse also prophesies the destruction of Ashdod, another Philistine city, echoing the theme of judgment against the Philistines and their idols.
Zephaniah 2:4-5Zephaniah delivers a similar judgment against the Philistine cities, including Gaza and Ashkelon, reinforcing the consistent message of God's judgment on these nations.
pulpitJeremiah 47:5: "Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?"
Verses 5-7. - The prophet changes his style. In ecstasy or imagination, he sees the calamity which he has foretold already come to pass. Philistia is not, indeed, altogether annihilated; it was not the will of God to make a full end as yet with any of the nations round about. But it is reduced to extremities, and fears the worst. Verse 5. - Baldness. A sign of the d…
barnesJeremiah 47:5: "Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?"
Baldness - Extreme mourning (see Jeremiah 16:6 ). Is cut off - Others render, is speechless through grief. With the remnant of their valley - Others, O remnant of their valley, how long wilt thou cut thyself? Their valley is that of Gaza and Ashkelon, the low-lying plain, usually called the Shefelah, which formed the territory of the Philistines. The reading of the…
The verse depicts extreme mourning by describing "baldness" and "cutting oneself," which were pagan practices for expressing grief. But here, the prophet uses them to show the utter desolation of Gaza and Ashkelon, portraying their very cities as self-harming in their despair.
Jeremiah is vividly describing the imminent destruction of the Philistine cities, particularly Gaza and Ashkelon, as a consequence of their wickedness. He portrays them in extreme mourning, with baldness and self-inflicted wounds, lamenting their downfall. The prophet then directly addresses the surviving remnant, questioning the futility of their prolonged grief and self-harm.
Jeremiah is vividly describing the imminent destruction of the Philistine cities, particularly Gaza and Ashkelon, as a consequence of their wickedness. He portrays them in extreme mourning, with baldness and self-inflicted wounds, lamenting their downfall. The prophet then directly addresses the surviving remnant, questioning the futility of their prolonged grief and self-harm.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Jeremiah 47:5 is available in the Sola app.
c. 589-586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians, and many Judeans were exiled. This backdrop of Babylonian dominance and destruction amplified the prophetic warnings to surrounding nations, including Philistia.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Ashkelon
Following Nebuchadnezzar's conquest, the city of Ashkelon was devastated and largely abandoned, its territory becoming a desolate plain, as described by Jeremiah.
c. 400 BC
Persian Period Decline
Under Persian rule, the Philistine cities continued to decline in importance, with many of their territories being depopulated or resettled by other groups, contributing to their eventual obscurity.
"Baldness has come upon Gaza; Ashkelon has perished. O remnant of their valley, how long will you gash yourselves?" — The verse depicts extreme mourning by describing "baldness" and "cutting oneself," which were pagan practices for expressing grief. But here, the prophet uses them to show the utter desolation of Gaz…
